Alt. ASEAN media release

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_________________________________________________________________
ALTERNATIVE ASEAN NETWORK ON BURMA
tel: 66 2 276 9846 - 7 fax: 66 2 276 2183
<chalida@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
c/o FORUM-ASIA, 109 SUTHISARNWINICHAI RD, SAMSENNOK, HUAYKWANG,
BANGKOK 10320
________________________________________________________________
January 7, 1997
MEDIA RELEASE:
BURMA DEMOS WILL INCREASE IN '97
Supporters of human rights, democracy and peace in Burma believe
that demonstrations will increase in 1997, despite the harsh
measures used by Burma's State Law and Order Restoration Council
(Slorc) military regime to suppress and discredit dissent.
The prediction was made at a weekend press conference in Bangkok
held by the Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma to announce that 12
Malaysian MPs had endorsed a declaration calling for ASEAN not to
grant full membership to Burma until genuine reforms had taken
place.
National Council of the Union of Burma spokesperson U Tin Maung Win
described 1996 as a time of serious political instability in Burma.
"Throughout 1996 Slorc refused to dialogue with the people who were
democratically elected, instead resorting to violent and clumsy
tactics to silence and discredit their opposition. The people are
fed up - in 1997 the demonstrations will probably increase, with
more members of the general public joining in.
"As the pro-democracy movement gained momentum through the year,
the Slorc reacted with irrationality and brutality against peaceful
activists. Slorc embarked on a series of harsh crackdowns. They
ushered Visit Myanmar Year with tanks and army personnel carriers.
Rural people and the urban poor have been suffering increased
hardship from the regime's brutality and economic mismanagement,"
he concluded.
Alternative ASEAN Network coordinator Debbie Stothard was
optimistic despite the grim picture. She explained that 1996 saw
a growth of determined support by ASEAN-based people's
organizations. "There have been a series of actions in Cambodia,
Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
"The support will grow in 1997 because of opposition to Slorc's
membership in ASEAN. Over 50 ASEAN-based organizations have
endorsed the Alternative ASEAN Declaration on Burma, and the number
is growing. We hope more ASEAN MPs will endorse this Declaration
as an indication of their concern and support for human rights,
democracy and peace."
The Alternative ASEAN Declaration on Burma was finalized by
ASEAN-based activists at a regional meeting in Bangkok recently.
Translations of the Declaration in Bahasa Malaysia, Burmese,
Chinese, Khmer and Thai languages were launched at the weekend
press conference to mark Burma's Independence Day.
Meanwhile, in Malaysia, Democratic Action Party leader Lim Kit Siang also
issued a media release to mark Burma's Independence Day. The head of
Malaysia's largest opposition party called for monitoring of reforms in
Burma and an investigation into the Slorc's involvement in drug production
and trafficking.
ENDS
Further information:
Debbie Stothard
Tel: (662) 276 9846 - 7 [office] or 693 1653 - 4 ext. 1216 [home]
Fax: (662) 276 2183
Email: chalida@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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